Combined automatic car and train-line coupling



Feb. 12 1924.

O. H. LE COMPTE COMBINED AUTOMATIC QAR AND TRAIN LINE COUPLING Filed Feb. 16. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ONES/ME H. LECUMP TE I 3% M C? 1%???5) Feb. 12 1924., 1,483,356

0. H. LE COMPTE COMBINED AUTOMATIC CAR AND TRAIN LINE COUPLING Filed Feb. 16, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1? 29 K5 zy f?? ONESIME H LECU F'TE fy 4770 944674 I lid Fetent we DNESIME H. LE COMPTE, 01? ST. LOUIS, MISSOTJ'RI, ASSIGNQR T LE COMPTE STAND B AUTOMATIC DEAWBAR AND CONNECTOR COMPELNY, OF DENVER, COLORADO, A

CQMMON LAW TRUST.

COMBINED AWEQMATIC CAR AND TRAIN-LINE COUPLING.

Application filed February 1 6, 1821.- Serial No, 445,474.

To all whom it mar; cancer n:

Be it known that l, ONESIME H. LE Corners, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Combined Automatic Car and Train-Line Couplings, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the &CCQl1l-- 4 parts, as hereinafter fully, clearly and concisely set forth, definitely ointed out in my claims and illustrated y the accompanying drawings, in whieh:--

Figure 1 is a plan view of a coupling constructed in accordance with my invention, the obscured parts being shown by broken lines.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the coupling with. the obscured parts shown by broken lines,

Figure 3 is an end elevation of one of the couplers.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken approximately along the longitudinal median line.

Figure 5 is a sectional plan taken along the line indicated 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmental, transverse sectional elevation taken on the line indicated 6-=-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a front elevation of a locking pin.

Figure 8 a side elevation or: the locking pin,

igure 9 is a plan view of a knuckle.

Figure 1G is an inside face view of the knuckle, and

Figure 11 is a plan, partly in se ction, showing one of my improved couplers as coupled with an ordinary coupler.

Referring by numerals to the drawings, 12 and. 13" designate the coupling heads,- each of which is of hollow shell like construction open at each end and arranged for connection with drawbar 14, by means of pins 15, which extend through vertically aligned holes 16 in the heads.

By preference each drawbar is provided with a clevis joint 17 whereby it ma have limited vertical flexibility, and by urther preference the forward end of each drawbar is provided with a chamfer such as 18 for engagement with a beveled rib 19, whereby to preserve relative horizontal alignment of coupled heads, as when rounding curves and to maintain each coupling head normally in substantial alignment with its respec-- tive draw bar.

Extending forwardly from each head is a pair of vertically spaced perforated ears 20 disposed Wholly to one side of the longitudinal median line of the head. A knuckle 22 is pivotally mounted between the ears of each head by means of a pin 21. The knuckle of eachliead is also disposed at all times, to one side of the longitudinal median line of the head,

Each knuckle is provided with'a head 23 in whose inside face there is a slot 24 and as shown the lower face of the slot is; provided with a bevel 25. Each knuckle also carries a bumper 26, which coacts with the head of an ordinary coupler to affect automatic coupling. Each knuckle is further provided with a rear extension 27 and a vertical stop 28 which act to limit the movements of the knuckle about its ivot.

Formed through the upper and ower walls of each head adjacent its forward end are holes through which the coupling pins 29 extend. As best shown in Figures 7 and 8, each pin. has anon-circular stem 30 having on its inside. face and adjacent its lower end a laterally disposed projection 31 having its bottom inclined rearwardly and downwardly and which functions with the bevel 25 of the knuckle to lift the pin so that the knuckle of a companion coupler by; reason of the slot 2% may pass rearwardly ill) .couple the two heads.

beyond the pin after which said laterally disposed projection 31 will fall to locking position relative the head of the knuckle. 'Eacli pin 29 also is provided with a laterally disposed projection 32 adjacent its upper end for engagement with the stop 28 of the knuckle to further lock the knuckle against swinging to uncoupled movement.

Formed in the side of each head there a is an opening 33 through which extend the arms 34 which arms are suitably fixed at their inner ends to the rear 'face of the coupling pins. Pivotally carried by each head beneath said arms 34 is a manually actuated bell crank 35 for lifting the pins through the medium of the arm 34 to un- The pins 29 being heavy drops back to normal osition by means of gravity as they are slidably carried by the heads.

Suspended from each head there is a manifold 36' containing the terminals, such as 37, of the train lines and said manifolds are disposed in a manner to affect automatically a con ling of all train lines simultaneously wit the coupling of the cars.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new thereinand desire to secure by LettersPatent is:

1. In a coupling construction, a draw bar, a coupling provided with a pivoted knuckle member and carried pivotally by said draw bar, anda vertically movable locking pin adapted for coupling engagement with a companion coupler and operative when in coupled relation to prevent pivotal movement of said knucklemember.

2. In a coupling construction, a draw bar, a coupling head provided with a pivoted knuckle member and with a connection to said draw bar permitting vertical movement of said head with reference to said draw bar, and a' vertically movable locking pin adapted for coupling engagement with a companion coupler and operative when in coupled relation to prevent pivotal move- I ment of said knucklemember.

.3. In a coupler construction, a draw bar, and a coupling head provided with a pivotal connection with said draw bar perrmitting vertical movement of said head with reference to said draw bar, said draw .bar

and head having flat, bevelled engagingsurfaces extending transversely cooperating camwise to maintain said head normally in substantial alinement with said draw bar.

4. In a coupler construction, a pair of draw bars each carrying a head member neeaese provided with a coupler element, and a ver-.

head member and adapted for automatic locking engagement with the coupler element of the other head member, said pin also acting when in said locking engagement to hold said coupler element against pivotal movement. v

5. In a coupler construction, a pair of draw bars each carryin a head member provided with a pivote coupler element aving a bevelled face portion, and a vertically movable locking pin carried by each head member and adapted to be lifted by engagement with the coupler element of the other head member and thereafter dropped into locking relation therewith, said pin also acting when in said locking engagement to hold said coupler element against pivotal movement.

6. In a coupler construction, a pair of draw bars each carrying a head member provided with a pivotal connection with its drawbar, a pivoted knuckle member carried byeach of said head members, a vertically movable locking pin carried by each head member and adapted, when in lowered position, for coupling engagement with the knuckle member of the companion head member, and, when in raised position, to release said knuckle member of the companion head member, said in also acting when in raised and lowered positions, respectively, to unlock and lock the knuckle members engaged thereby as regards pivotal movement.

7 In a coupler construction, a pair of draw bars each carrying a head member provided with a pivotal connection with its draw bar, a pivoted knuckle member carried by each of said head members, a vertically movable locking pin carried by each head member and adapted, when in lowered position, for coupling engagement with the knuckle member of the companion head member and, when in raised position, to release said knuckle member of the companion head member, said pins being also adapted, when in lowered position to lock the knuckle members engaged thereby against pivotal movement, and provided with recesses affording clearance permitting 

